Shloka 9
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती चापि दुरवापमवाप्य तत् । परमव्यसनार्तोडपि नार्जुनो<स्त्रं व्यमुजचत
brahmacārī vratī cāpi duravāpam avāpya tat | paramavyasanārto 'pi nārjuno 'straṃ vyamuñcat ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Habiendo obtenido esa arma difícil de alcanzar sólo viviendo como estudiante célibe y estricto observante de votos, Arjuna no la soltaba, ni siquiera cuando lo afligía la calamidad más grave. El verso subraya que el verdadero poder, ganado mediante disciplina, debe regirse por la contención y el juicio ético, no por la desesperación.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power acquired through brahmacarya and vows must be governed by restraint; even in extreme distress, one should not deploy destructive means without dharmic necessity.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s disciplined acquisition of a rare weapon and emphasizes that Arjuna would not discharge it even under severe crisis, highlighting his self-control and ethical caution.